Popular in Japan, these unique skin care products are made from ingredients that "mimic the makeup of our actual skin." They were introduced to the U.S. this May with a look that says clean and clinical. "We chose to use durable vials modeled after insulin bottles because we were concerned that conventional glass wouldn't withstand our sterilization process," says Greg Senda, spokesman for the Seattle-based company. Ten of the 22 products are sold in 8-mL vials. They can be reclosed with polyethylene caps provided with the product (and manufactured by CAC), and should be refrigerated after opening. A two-week shelf life after opening is expected. Vials are filled, capped with a rubber stopper and aluminum pull tab, then autoclaved. Filling currently takes place at company headquarters in Japan, though CAC is anticipating construction of a plant in Seattle that will house a packaging line for A'Cino. Materials come from a variety of Japanese suppliers. Graphics on polyvinyl chloride shrink labels, however, were handled by a North American firm, Current Design (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), so as to better appeal to the Western consumer. The products range from $18 to $110, with an average of $30-$35, comparable to other top-of-the-line products, says CAC.
